Nicola Roos The Flower That Blooms Alone Long In Exile 202 2 Long In Exile , 2022 Following the exploration of Queen Nzinga Mbandi and the imagined legacy of Yasuke in the African motherland, Long In Exile speaks about the return of cultural heritage to the place of origin. This work is an attempt to highlight the importance of giving back indigenous people their own voice to tell their stories and affirm their histories. In this piece, the idea of Queen Nzinga is presented in the form of a smaller figure (she stands just under 150cm tall, as opposed to Above The Memory of Heroes, which is about 180cm in height) that bears colouring reminiscent of a bronze cast. Also, her body is tainted with a Verdigris patina and her armour is scuffed and weathered, which is reminiscent of the metallic treasures uncovered at historically significant archaeological sites in Africa, such as Mapungubwe in South Africa and the ruins at the kingdom of Great Zimbabwe. The title further ties in with recent news regarding the decision made by museums in both the UK and the US to return bronze artifacts stolen from African countries during the colonial expansion into their native lands. This movement was spearheaded by international pressure placed on the British government to return the famously looted "Benin Bronzes" that were kept in the National Museum of African Art in London - which was finally done in early 2022. Long In Exile celebrates decolonisation efforts made by Western powers in contemporary times while taking a critical look at the legacy of cross-cultural exchange, globalisation and the continuous re- writing of African history. Long In Exile , 202 2 Polyurethane plastic, used inner tyre tubes, stainless steel, aluminium, wood, polyurethane foam, nails, glass, epoxy resin, cotton cloth, cotton cord, cotton rope, thermoplastic, enamel paint , faux suede, beads, replica katana. Dimensions ( mm ): 1 490 H x 490 W x 500 D